Chertoff to speak at Thursday dinner

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be the guest speaker at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s 2007 signature event Thursday evening.

News Eagle report

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be the guest speaker at the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s 2007 signature event Thursday evening.

The chamber’s “An Evening with Michael Chertoff” is being held at Skytop Inn in Skytop. Chertoff, who rarely makes public speeches, will talk about the state of Homeland Security.

Chertoff was sworn in as the second secretary of Homeland Security on Feb. 15, 2005. Chertoff formerly served as United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Chertoff was previously confirmed by the Senate to serve in the Bush administration as assistant attorney general for the Criminal Division at the Department of Justice. As assistant attorney general, he helped trace the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the al-Qaida network, and he worked to increase information sharing within the FBI and with state and local officials.

Chertoff graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1975 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1978. From 1979 to 1980 he served as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice William Brennan Jr.

The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization consisting of over 450 area businesses, professionals and civic organizations. Incorporated in 1962, the membership continues to grow and diversify, all with one common goal: to strengthen the business environment and enhance the quality of life in Pike County.